Aaron Rodgers is a Plan A. Mike Florio believes Jamis Winston is a Plan B. If Rodgers goes to the Giants, Minnesota Vikings or the couch in New York, Pittsburgh should pivot to Winston, then in the first reduced quarterback market
“They know you’re going to end up being someone I think I know,” he told co-host Chris Sims. For Thursday’s professional football talk. “I’m watching him now. Jameis Winston. If they don’t sign Rodgers, they’re going with Jameis Winston, because he can at least get the ball down on the field.
Winston will probably embrace the idea and create a pitch to play for Mike Tomlin before this offseason.
If that opportunity presents itself, I would like to team up with coach Mike Tomlin… I highly admire coach Mike Tomlin,” he said last month. “The first Super Bowl ring I’ve ever had was [2008] Bruce Arian’s Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Ring. That definitely matches my vision. ”
And the previous quarterback made a personal pitch for Tomlin to fold Winston.
Florio is right to argue that Winston can put the ball downfield. His recognized gunslinger mentality allows him to take the chance and trust his playmaker, and Pittsburgh is building a deep-threatening duo at top with George Pickens and Metcalf.
As for Jameis Winston, there’s a big play. The problem is that you are not sure who is making them. He is one of the most likely quarterbacks of his time, and his volatility makes it difficult to trust him in a full season. Since drafted in 2015, he has the quarterback’s sixth-highest interception rate in at least 500 attempts. His previous names are not future Hall of Fame: Deshaun Kaiser, Josh Rosen, Nick Mullens, Mike Glennon, and Sam Howell.
Even in their efforts to improve their offense and trust the passing game more than they have, Pittsburgh’s path to victory remains the same. Have good defense, win nearby and slow games, and don’t flip the ball over. Winston doesn’t fit that philosophy. His unpredictable results, big plays and expensive sales make it difficult to trust him. And once the Steelers turn the ball over, they lose. Since 2022, regardless of the difference in sales, they turn it once and get 12-20 (.375). When they don’t give it, they are 17-2 (.895).
Obviously, all teams have a higher chance of winning when protecting the ball compared to when the ball isn’t, but Pittsburgh’s split could be the league’s most exaggerated.
After Florio’s comments, Pittsburgh made a move at quarterback to bring back Mason Rudolph. He should be second place. The team wants to land Rogers in No. 1. Otherwise, the options will be thinner. The fence could probably be repaired along with Russell Wilson. Otherwise, the Steelers would prefer to bend elsewhere and, perhaps at worst, start Rudolph before considering giving Winston the key.
